House of Commons Hansard #58 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was growth.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, everyone here acknowledges the need to keep the Canadian Forces equipped with the best resources we can afford. However, the Conservatives have decided to sole source one of the biggest single contracts we have ever seen: $9 billion for new fighter jets.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
That is $9 billion, Mr. Speaker, all of it borrowed. Given the government's track record with counting, it will probably be even more.
Why will the minister not allow an open bidding process so that Canadians get the best value for this borrowed money?
Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, yes, this government has committed to replacing the next generation fighters. We are going ahead with many new purchases.
That is a question coming from the member opposite who is a member of a party that gutted the Canadian Forces and forced them into a decade of darkness, would not have bought the C-17 aircraft so useful in the humanitarian efforts in Haiti, was against the purchase of tanks now saving lives in Afghanistan and that sent our Canadian Forces ill-equipped into Afghanistan in forest green uniforms. We will take no lessons from the member opposite.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
If we want to know more, we must be able to hear. The hon. member for Hull—Aylmer.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that the $9 billion is well spent, especially since it is borrowed money. The Procurement Ombudsman denounces the awarding of a sole source contract. It is even more worrisome when we have a government that is completely incapable of managing a budget.
Will the government undertake to use an open bidding process or will it spend the $9 billion without any transparency, without any competition?
Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, what this government will commit to is getting the best possible equipment at the best price to benefit Canadian industry.
Again, what is beyond ironic is that this is coming from a member of a party that cancelled the maritime helicopter program, costing our country almost $1 billion. This is coming, as I said, from a member of a party that gutted the Canadian Forces during its time in office. This is the height of hypocrisy.
I would encourage the member, along with his party, to support the noble efforts of the men and women of the Canadian Forces who are doing us proud every day.
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Mr. Speaker, it has been a year since the integrated management plan for the Beaufort Sea was released.
The plan ensures that development of fragile Arctic waters is based on long-term sustainability and environmental protection. It was created in co-operation with the Inuvialuit environmental groups and industry and has been approved by all departments, yet the government continues to ignore it.
Today is World Oceans Day. Can the minister explain why this vital plan has been sitting on her desk for a year, unfunded and unauthorized?
John Duncan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot in the north. The member knows it.
We are committed to improving our regulatory systems in the north. We have created legislative changes to improve regulatory processes and enhance environmental stewardship, with a strong voice for aboriginal people. We have recently appointed a federal negotiator to improve regulatory systems.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, recognizing again that today is World Oceans Day, last week the House unanimously passed my motion calling for the government to conduct an immediate, thorough, and transparent review and revision of Canadian federal laws on the development of unconventional sources of oil and gas to ensure the strongest practicable Canadian environmental and safety rules.
Can the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development confirm that this review will include an examination of the law and policy on offshore leases in the Arctic?
John Duncan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, the hearings, as I understand it, are taking place under the umbrella of the National Energy Board. It will obviously set the terms of reference and the context. It has a very strong, robust regulatory system.
We have had testimony before the committee from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, which says that the National Energy Board has the skill base to have the strongest and most robust environmental legislation.
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, today the member for Ajax—Pickering missed an opportunity to table in the House his motion that would derail Bill C-391 and keep the long gun registry as is. Why is this? It seems that he was too busy playing political games and forgot.
The choice is clear on any vote on this wasteful, ineffective long gun registry. Either members vote to keep it or they vote to scrap it.
Can the Minister of Public Safety explain to opposition members why Canadians will not be fooled by their political games?
Vic Toews ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his effort to support our efforts to scrap the wasteful and ineffective long gun registry, and I thank him for that support.
While the member for Ajax—Pickering and others in the opposition continue to play political games, Canadians know that any vote on the long gun registry is clear. Members either vote to scrap it or they vote to keep it. It is as simple as that.
We call on all opposition members who voted in favour of Bill C-391 at second reading to listen to their constituents, not the Liberal leader and to scrap the long gun registry.
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Speaker, in rural Canada, especially in British Columbia, float planes are an essential and sometimes fragile mode of transportation. The devastating crash at Saturna Island, which killed six people, and the recent tragic loss of life at the first nations community of Ahousaht, appear to have finally attracted the attention and the rhetoric of the minister of transport,, but still no action.
How many more tragedies will it take for the minister to address and implement the Transportation Safety Board's recommendation and actually do something to protect Canadians who rely on float planes for transportation?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that we are deeply concerned about float plane safety. Our sympathies go to the families of those who recently lost their lives.
We recently put out a statement saying that we would review the various recommendations that have been in place and will do everything we reasonably can to ensure that Canadians are safe when they use this important mode of transportation, particularly on the west coast.
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development knows that a developer is planning to build an apartment building on land claimed by the Mohawk community of Kanesatake. No one wants the current situation to deteriorate due to government complacency, as was the case in the 1990 Oka crisis.
Will the Prime Minister and the minister promise to restore the non-aboriginal property acquisition program to protect the lands claimed by first nations?
John Duncan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, we understand what is happening in Kanesatake, at Oka. We know that there have been Canada, first nation, local community, and provincial discussions. We also know that there is no escalation. There is no crisis. The eventual disposition of the land will be up to the local authorities.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, the current government has repeatedly claimed concern about the disturbingly high number of missing and murdered aboriginal women. The throne speech highlighted Sisters in Spirit research, and budget 2010 promised $10 million to address this tragedy. Yet it has been over three months, and no plan has been announced. Sisters in Spirit still has not been informed of any funding renewals.
When will the government announce its plan for spending the $10 million? When will it finally start taking this problem seriously, and when will it take action to help aboriginal women in this country?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we take all incidents of crime in this country very seriously. I wish, for a change, that we would get the help of the NDP and other members of the opposition on many of these issues.
That being said, I was very pleased that there was over $10 million in the most recent budget to address the disturbingly high number of missing and murdered aboriginal people. We are moving forward on this file, over a wide range of solutions and proposals. We all have a stake in addressing this problem. I hope that this gets the support of all hon. members.
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, the year was 1992. The setting was the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Canada, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, proposed a concept of a worldwide ocean day. Since then, World Oceans Day has been celebrated internationally on an annual basis.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment advise the House of the unprecedented and historic undertaking announced by this government on World Oceans Day?
Mark Warawa ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, that is a great question from the member for Nanaimo—Alberni. I want to thank him for his work on the environment.
Yesterday our government tabled an amendment that would create the Gwaii Haanas national marine conservation area reserve and Haida heritage site.
Canada will be the first country in the world to protect a region from the alpine treetops in the mountains to the depths of the ocean floor. This, along with the government's commitment to the creation of a national marine conservation area in Lancaster Sound, puts Canada among the great stewards of the planet's oceans.
I urge all members in the House to support the Gwaii Haanas, an achievement for all Canadians to be proud of.
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention an incident that occurred during oral question period.
After I answered a question, my colleague opposite, the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, with whom I usually have civilized and cordial exchanges, twice very clearly called me a liar. I do not know why. We often, if not always, disagree; however, we always have interesting and intelligent discussions. He clearly went too far by twice calling me a liar. I am requesting that he apologize to the House or that he immediately withdraw his remarks.
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, first, I did not ask a question in the House. Therefore, it was not in response to a question that I asked.
When the minister claimed that there was a monitoring plan for oil drilling, I stated, but not in the debate, that the plan did not exist, and I continue to believe that. Nevertheless, I withdraw my remarks.